Ray Romano Hosts Comedy Show For Peter Boyle Memorial Fund

Ray Romano Hosts Comedy Show For Peter Boyle Memorial Fund

Everybody Loves Raymond Costars Help International Myeloma Foundation

Costars Ray Romano and Doris Roberts, who played son and mother on the long-running sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, were reunited on stage at the International Myeloma Foundation 4th Annual Comedy Celebration. They were there to honor Peter Boyle who played Frank Barone, the grumpy patriarch of the TV family. And the event benefited the Peter Boyle Memorial Fund, which was established by his family to support the International Myeloma Foundation’s research programs.

Celebrating the life of their friend and costar, Romano and Roberts recalled favorite and hysterical memories performing with the much-loved Boyle. Ray launched the night with his stand-up comedy that had the crowd roaring with laughter at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

Another costar from Everybody Love Raymond, Fred Willard also did a great routine, and he was followed by fellow comediennes Dana Carvey, Jeff Garlin, Carlos Mencia, and Susie Essman. It seemed no subject was off limits, with funny rants about immigration, politics, and family life. Even Peter Boyle’s life and his movies, such as Young Frankenstein and Joe, were the subject of their jokes.

The Hangover star Ken Jeong appeared on stage in a silver velvet unitard and honored Boyle in song, plus the actor-physician played the guitar to a contemporary acoustic tribute to old school rap. It left the crowd in stitches.

Monica Horan, who played Amy on Everybody Loves Raymond, was also there to enjoy the show and share stories about the much-loved Boyle. Horan also let everyone know that her husband, Raymond producer-writer Phil Rosenthal, is getting ready to release Exporting Raymond, a film about bringing Everybody Loves Raymond to Russia. She brags, “It is so unbelievably funny, and it’s all true.”

True Blood’s Joe Maganiello and his fiancé Audra Marie mingled with the supporters of the IMF during the lively silent auction and reception. The couple was observed bidding on several vacation (perhaps honeymoon) destinations.

Before the show got underway, Jeopardy host Alex Trebek presented the International Myeloma Foundation’s Hero Award to Annette O’Toole, on behalf of her husband Michael McKean, who was unable to attend. McKean had gone on Celebrity Jeopardy and won a million dollars for the Myeloma charity. That certainly earned him the title of IMF’s hero. And the money raised in Peter Boyle’s name during the night of comedy made him a hero too.

FRANK BARRON
Frank Barron is the former editor of The Hollywood Reporter, having served twice in that capacity. In between, he was West Coast news director for Billboard Publications, supervising their five magazines.
Barron also created the western TV series “The Man From Blackhawk” for the ABC network.
For more than three decades he and writer-wife Margie Barron have covered Hollywood for Production Update magazine, and they currently contribute to numerous publications.
Frank started in showbiz as publicity director for the KHJ radio and television station. Before moving to California, he was a sports editor in New Jersey.